Liquid applicator



H. v. WESTE R ET AL LIQUID APPLICATOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Aug. 5, 1952 avg m u II LF I: II MWI |L Filed Nov. 29, 1948 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 vH race; V., waster mQU n we-rha a i \washingtmi vI); c1, m1

K st9ff n-D nnevia vere t e rie ssig eesa d est rl 1 v Appli oa-t ion- November; 29, 1948; seriama. 62,446

This invention. relatesn tothe application of. liquid chemicals tov soil and growingvegetationand more particularly to devicesifonmaking such applications. I V v Anobject of this invention-isthe 'provision of a st. aims. (Cline-1a;

apparatus which-functionsto distribute the liquid evenly over the ground and on grovvingNegetation. 1

Another object of this invention isthe pro: vision of apparatus-by meansof which the-flowof chemicals: from the apparatus canbe' controlled;

i A further objectof this invention is-to provide;

an apparatusof the type-mentioned whichmayi beused either alone or in combination with-a veg hicle moveable over-the surface ofthe ground,

such as a laWn-niowerorother garden imple-f' ment. p I

Furtherobjects and advantage ofs-thisinverttion will 'be apparent-fromthe following-description consideredtogether with the accompanying drawing, in which: I Fig; 1 is a top planviewoifthe applicator at?- tached'to the lower endof-a handle bar;

Fig, 2 is a rear'elevationalview of the applicator, partly in section.

Fi 3 is a side elevational view ofthe' appli cator.

use; The front: end of the-plate) is: secured in position adjacent-the rear -of 'the row of apertures l4 so-that liquid leaving said apertures will direct1y= contact. the-plate; The bottom of the plateisprovidedwith n; seriesofrcriss-oross grooves 'l 6 the forward end ofeachgroove being directly behind one of the apertures Ht t'ore-iceive liquid therefrom and distribute-italong the bottom face of the-plate divergent directions. When the plate-restsonthe-ground; the-groovesform a channel with the surface through-which the-liquid-is distributed; The-number of gro'oves l 6 {maybe increased ta any amount clesired and may be made-very -fineon the order of an ordinary f le for capillary eiiect. Such grooves may be provided bysan'db lasting; the bottom surface of theplatein different}direotiohsbrbyetching it in; accordance withknown' procedures; Groove s of this} kind; provide an unusually unil form; distributionfl other foreign -rfiatte'r asf grooves of larger size.- The grooves I fi also' function to mildlyabradevegetative matter'to which the chemical is being 1 applied? whichis particularly; advantageous in the application of -we'edkil1ers; such as 2, 4 D,- and Figz 5- is"a bottom plan view of the I applicator. f

Fi 6,is a side elevational view showing the applicatorattached' to 'anv ordinary lawn mower. Fig; 7 is a side elevationalview showing the,

applicator attached-- to a special" type of "vehicle. Fig. 8 is an" isometric view of-the applicator showing several modifications thereof.

Referring; with more. articularity to the: drawing inwhich like numerals designate like" parts,

the embodiment illustrated-comprises an elon gated tank It which is wide at the top andnarrow at the bottom in the nature of a trough; The rear wall l2 of the tank may be fiat angling downwardly toward the front and the front-wall l3 may be vcurved from. theipoint. whereit meets the lower end of the rear wall around' to where-itmeets the. upper end of therear-wall. This construction; permits the device;v to slide with case on the. side of, hil1s e th,e li uid will notall gravi- W e n n in then thus nsi finaih i over obstructions on the groundandalsa-permi-ts the maintenance of. a large head of liquid in-the tank, forany given quantity thereof.

At the bottomof the tank, "preferably along the. loweredgeof the wall l2; there is disposedsaprow' of small apertures I 4 c of. capillary size through i which-liquid in;theitank is discharged; .l V i Beneath the; wall" [2. there isdisposeda rigid I lideplate li ;up ontwhich the tank rests when: in:

also I to rub ofi dust; particlesfand 1' 'smodtlr'down the surface hairs of-j plants-ftp permitabetter; contact of the chemicali on the surface of" the plants'being treated; 1

The 19 26 l 15 l pp i e I R Sii iQ X me n of brackets l1 and; if ateitherend and inner brackets I9 andff zlfl on either side oi 'thegcenteri d n ra ketsma used? vi ss r dt- Th .v

n ri r s at al o e ve. awake s i Q t -v i e lbn'at no i- Q and h h nd 2 l. is provi ed ,withia, hqri ntal; b r h t t tw en. the rackets! 9. an 0 andnisflsesuredt n. thispositionby means of bolt zapassing through the brac e s and tar within-,ithe' ank the Ir'ovided one or more transverse? partitions 2,4 to the, tank to into a; plurality of. "compartments .so; that. when. the device is, operating; overunevengroundi and charge: of liquid from allw th aperture g Ill,- or; a,

s nt al nu h n i l he here f hwarting s14; moy edwith;

e i te szqmmumcahlerwith :eachothen or: purposes, hereinafter: more ruin explained;

Aniline anertureizaiis provide through-l the:- wall? lzrnear -i-tsiuppen =edgeilanddtiisiconnecteds p ii 50.1 ilehe b v are not-as likely to-b ecome ologged withdirt aaid mat the ev ce aliari le H prrusn ngtne decut-out portions K 25 y so-"thatzthe compartments;

to one end of a tube 21 that projects outward and terminates near the heel of the plate IS. The tube 21 is provided with a removable plug 28 having a flange 29 or other suitable means to permit manual withdrawal of the plug.

In filling the tank with liquid, the applicator is turned upside down, the plug 2i} removed and the liquidifiotired 'lrilioftheitank through the tube 21. As the liquid "enters the tank it distributes itself evenly to all the compartments because of the intercommunication provided by the cutout areas 25 which, in this position of the tank,

beams 42 projecting forwardly. The forward end of each beam engages a vertical rod 43 which is held in different vertical positions by any suitable means, such as nuts 44 and 45 on a threaded portion of the rod. The applicator 40 is secured to the lower end of the rods. Hence, the applicator can be raised or lowered relative to the ground by adjusting the vertical position of the rods with the nuts 44 and 45. The vehicle may be attached directly to the forward end of -another vehicle such as a tractor (not shown) are at the lowermost position. In this position of the tank, each compartment is maintainedat atmospheric pressure by means of the apertures I 4, thereby avoiding the building up of back pressure in any of the compartments while vide, a measure of control; ofi thepressure with-.

in the tank as the, liquidgflows, out through the apertures 14. 1;. ,ii

This pressure is equalized throughout the tank in view .of the intercommunication between the partitionedcompartments provided; by the cutoutareasfi.v

The; tube 30 is sufiicientlylongto permit its lower endtobe disposed in any desired position between the. bottom of the tank and the liquid level. ,1 j j y n ..n ma .pp rati .;t h tto :e o the e .30 is be wih liquid l v -.1 AS th u d level ro s, ressur n a a-t n d op W difierence i n e sure etwe n t t osphere and theinside o f;;tl 1e tank is; greater than eado l uid ab sthe bottomeof e tube 30, air will be drawn throughgthe tube to maintain; equilibrium. Consequently, the resultant pressure in the tank represented by. the head of liquid, between the bottomfjof the tank and the or flp i the t be w l h 'f e fi is discharge liquid-front the;tank.- By varying the position of thetube'witl'r-respect t o the liquid level and the bottomof the. tank'irl conjunction with the air valve, 'a close control of liquid discharge through apertures I4 is maintained. I

'Suitablemeansmay be" provided for attaching the device to a'yehicle, such as,. for example, an ordinary lawnlmow'er. 'A preferred means compriseshorizontal tubular members 33 and 34 on either "side of Ith'e;v tank to receive the ends of bars 35, the other ends of the bars being attached to the vehicle, such as the lawn mower 3! (see Fig. 6) with bolts 38' through apertures suitable manner, such as by hooks 52.

'46 similar to that of a hand plow to permit the operator 4 to push it along the ground while walking. This form of the invention permits its use on'growing vegetation that is substantially above the ground level, such as tomato plants, bean bushes, beet stalks, lettuce, various flowers and other plants. This is provided not only by .the'vertical adjustability of the applicator on the; vehicle, but also bythe fact that the elevation of the applicator relative to any growing plant being encountered as the vehicle moves along the ground canjquickly be changed by moving the handle bars 46 up or down as may be required in any particular case. Consequently, diiferent sizes of plants can be readily treated in a continuous movement of the vehicle.

In Fig. 8 the applicator is shown supported on vertically adjustable skids 41. The adjustment is provided by means of upright rods 48 slideably disposed in tubular brackets 49 having set screws 50, adaptedtoabut therods and. hold them in V different fixed positions relative to the applicator.

In this manner the applicator may be set at any desired distance above the ground. This is particularly important in cases where it is desired to treat tall plants growing together in an area with shorter plants that, are not to be treated.

Another modification shown in Fig. 8 which is independent of other modifications illustrated comprises the use of adrag chain 5! at the rear of the applicator. The ends of the chain may be secured to the sides of the applicator in any Such a dragchain has the effect of distributing the chemicafbettenover the surface of the ground.

It maybeused either inconj unction with the plate control.

in the lawn mower usually provided by the manu- Y a somewhat flexible'material, such as rubber or rubber tubingto: provide 'adegree of vertical movement of the tank'relative to the vehicle.

By these means, itis assuredthat the tank will rest solidly on the ground -inthose instances when the tank is at -a"soi'newhat diiferent elevation thanthe vehicle to which itis attached.

In Fig. '7'there is' illustrated the'combination of an applicator 40- of the type des'cribed with a two wheeled'vehiclelh. Theforward end ofthe vehicle is provided ."with; 'one' ormore horizontal The various: embodiments of the invention described above aresuitable for use in the application of numerous. chemical liquids to plants and soils, such asfertilizers, plant'growth substances, weed killers, insecticides, fungicides and others Weclaimz. 1" 1 1. A liquid applicator comprisingan elongated rigid hollow tank forjhol'dinga, liquid, said tank having downwardly convergent sides and having apertures therethrough at the bottom and an independentv rigid glide plate secured to the tank 7 on the rearwardside of said apertures:

2. A liquid applicator comprising an elongated rigid hollow tank for-holding a liquid, said tank having, downwardly convergent sides and having apertures therethroughat the bottom, an independent rigid glide plate'secured to the tank on the rearward sideof 'said apertures, a solid transversle'partition within said tank for sub-dividing the tank into a plurality of compartments and means for intercommunicating said sections with each other above the liquid level of the tank.

-3. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 in which the apertures are disposed in a. row along the bottom of the tank.

4. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 in which the bottom of the plate has a convex curvature.

5. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 in which the bottom of the plate is provided with a plurality of grooves.

6. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 in which the bottom of the plate is provided with a plurality of grooves one end of each being directly behind an aperture.

7. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 in which the bottom surface of the glide plate is provided with a plurality of capillary grooves.

8. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 having a vent tube disposed through the top of the tank.

9. A liquid applicator as defined by claim'l having a vent tube slidably disposed through the top or the tank.

10. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 having a vent tube disposed through the top of the tank and an air valve in said tube.

11. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 and means for attaching the applicator to a vehicle.

12. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 and yieldable means for attaching the applicator to a vehicle.

13. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 and adjustable means for attaching the applicator to a vehicle.

14. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1,

means [for attaching the applicator to a vehicle and means for elevationally adjusting the applicator on the vehicle.

15. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1, and means for supporting the applicator on skids.

16. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1, skids for supporting the applicator on the ground and means for elevationally adjusting the applicator on the skids.

17. A liquid applicator as defined by claim 1 and a drag chain attached to the rear thereof.

18. A liquid applicator comprising an elongated tank for holding a liquid, said tank having downwardly convergent sides and having apertures therethr'ough at the bottom, and means for attaching a drag chain at the rear of the applicator.

HORACE V. WESTER. IQHSTOFFER DANNEVIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 315,387 Couteau Apr. 7, 1885 464,603 Hampton et a1 Dec. 18, 1891 521,164 House June 12, 1894 564,707 MacKenzie July 28, 1896 848,472 Lechner Mar. 26, 1907 1,287,487 Smith Dec. 10, 1918 1,454,308 Arndt May 8, 1923 2,081,673 Olson May 25, 1937 2,314,394 Guy Mar. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,164 Australia Nov. 13, 1941 

